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Abstract

Apparatus for monitoring and analyzing the behavior of a message network. Such an apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises a plurality of expert systems (Consultants), each of which is concerned with a different one of the several operations normally involved in the analysis of any given network problem, and communication device. The communication device is preferably in the form of an electronic blackboard by means of which deductions can be passed between the Consultants under control of the user. The user may also add information to the electronic blackboard. In a preferred embodiment, the Consultants include a Fault Recognizer Consultant fed with raw data from the message network and which generates Problem suggestions therefrom; a Usage Advisor Consultant which suggests where to test and what to test for; an Operations Assistant Consultant which suggests how to make the tests; a Expert Commentator Consultant which analyzes the results of the tests to produce Symptoms; and a Diagnostician which generates possible and plausible diagnoses of the observed fault conditions, together with explanations. In practice, there is likely to be a roughly cyclic sequence of activation among the Usage Advisor, the Operations Assistant, and the Expert Commentator, with the Diagnostician performing a kind of supervisory or higher level role.

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First Claim